Converter attachment for suction cleaners



1950 "w. A. HUMPHREY 2,517,670

CONVERTER ATTACHMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Sept. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8, 1950 w. A. HUMPHREY 2,517,670

CONVERTER ATTACHMENT FOR SUCTION CLEANERS Filed Sept. 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UNITED STATE Patented Aug. 8, 19 50 A CONVERTERATTACHMENTFOR SUCTION CLEANERS H Warren A. Humphrey, Cantoin Ohio, assignor to The Hoover Company corporation of Ohio North Canton, Ohio, a

;Applicati0n September 16, 1944, Serial No, 554,379

and novel construction for convertingthe cleaner from an on-the-fioor unit to an ofi-the-floor unit. More specifically the invention comprises 2 Claims. (c1. 15- 333) to suction cleanan improved suction cleaner construction in which the dusting tool converter is inserted through a normally covered port in the front top wall of the cleaner nozzle to close the air passageway leading from the nozzle to the suctioncreating fan means. This it does by making contact with the contoured wall surfaces thereof at a point above the power-transmitting belt,

the opening of. the cover for the converter port functioning to raise the nozzle end of the machine into an inoperative position with respect to the surface covering positioned therebelow.

It is. an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction cleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide new and improved conversion means in a suction cleaner for converting from on-the-floor to offthe-floor cleaning. Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved converter seating arrangement in a suction cleaner. These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawings to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawings in which a pre- "ferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed, and in which the same reference character refers A to the same part throughout:

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section, of a cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention in its on-the-fioor cleaning relationship;

Figure 2 is a side view of the cleaner illustrated in Figure 1 with the dusting tool converter inserted, the nozzle raised to inoperative position, and the machine in its off-the-fioor cleaning re-l lationship;

Figure 3 is a section upon the 1ine 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a top view of the converter element ing the nozzle with the suction-creating fan;

Figure 8 is a section upon the line B-B of Figure 7.

.fl oday the modern suction cleaner must be olevso ' cleaner nozzle.

signed for the cleaning of floor coverings and also for the cleaning of articles positioned thereabove. A preferred type of suction cleaner to which this invention relates is provided witha permanent floor-cleaning nozzle which, in the oh-the-floot cleaning operation, moves at all. times in operative relationship with the surface covering undergoing cleaning. The machine is adapted to be propelled by the operator through the exertion of a force upon the cleaner handle and the entrance of cleaning air into the nozzle, in cooperation with the agitation function performed by the agitator positioned therein, dislodges and removesthe foreign material from thesurface covering undergoing cleaning. In order to clean the articles positioned at a level higher than the floor the machine is adapted to be converted into an off-the-floor cleaner by the insertion of a converter element. In accordance with the present invention this converter element is inserted easily and readily into a normally covered aperture in the top front wall of the Through this wall the converter element extends rearwardly to contact the contoured walls of the air passageway connecting the nozzle with the fan chamber to make sealing contact therewith in order to prevent substantially all air fiow from the nozzle to the fan chamber. The arrangement is such thatthe belt connecting the motor shaft with the agitator in the nozzle continues to drive the agitator. However, the nozzle end of the machine having been raised bythe movement of the port closureto open position, the agitator rotates out of contact with the surface covering positioned therebelow.

The construction is simple and is easily operated,

Referring again to the drawings a suction cleaner constructed in accordance withthe present invention is illustrated in Figure 1 in its onthe-floor cleaning relationship. The cleaner body is seen to comprise a nozzle I which is interiorly connected by an air passageway Lincluding a removable bottom plate 3, to the eye 4 of the fan chamber 6. Nozzle l is provided with surfacecontacting front and rear lips I and 8 through which cleaning air is drawn into the nozzle. This air passes through the air passageway 2 and into the fan chamber 6 under the suction effect created by the rotation of a suction-creating fan 9 carried upon the lower end of the shaft I I which forms a part of the driving motor [2. The latter is positioned within the enclosing casing l3 immediately above the fan chamber 6. An electric light I4 is provided within the housing l3 and is positioned adjacent a window; that light rays may be directed over the cleaner nozzle i and.

forward of the machine in order that the operator can better see the surface covering to be cleaned.

Within the nozzle l, and directly above the mouth as defined by the surface-contacting lips I and 8, is a rotary agitator H which includes suitable surface-contacting elements of the rigid beater and flexible brush type. Agitator I! is connected by means of a power-transmitting belt to a pulley 19 at the lowermost end of the motor shaft II and the agitator rotates at all times upon the rotation of the motor shaft H and the fan 9. Agitator l1 functions to dislodge, by brushing and beating, all foreign material positioned within a surface covering contacted by the nozzle lips I and 8.

The cleaner is movably-supported upon front and rear supporting wheels 2| and 22, the former being mounted upon the extremities, of a crank shaft 23 which is pivotally mounted in the cleaner casing which extends across the interior of the nozzle immediately forward of the front of the fan chamber 6. A pivoted handle through which the operator can exert a propelling force is provided, the lower extremity thereof being shown in Figure 1, and being indicated by the reference character 26. A filter bag 21 is removably attached to the rear of the cleaner body in such position as to receive interiorly the dirt-laden air stream from the nozzle 1 which is exhausted by the suction-creating fan 9 after passing through the fan chamber 6.

Vfith the cleaner functioning as an on-the- .floor cleaner the parts are arranged as illus- To transform the machine into an off-the-' floor cleaner certain additional constructional features are provided. In the off-the-floor cleaning operation a dusting tool unit of well known design comprising long flexible hose is connected to the cleaner by means of a con- -verter element, the hose carrying at its outer end a second cleaning nozzle of any common type which the operator moves about and over the object to be cleaned. This general relationship is well known. The converter element 3! constructed in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6 and is seen to comprise a flattened main portion having a substantially rectangular cross-section. At one end the main body portion is provided with a hose-seating portio 32 which is preferably cylindrical and on which the dusting tool hose is retained in any suitable manner. At its opposite end the main body portion is seen to be somewhat scoop-like in form, the top wall ending far back of the lower wall at 33 while the side and bottom walls extend therebeyond, the extreme forward end of the bottom wall being slanted upwardly at 34 to provide an abutting base and also being cut-out at 35 in order to extend around and more closely to the motor shaft 5!, as will become apparent. The converter element is also provided with a pivoted retaining latch 3? upon its surface which has a hooked forward end, as indicated at 38.

To receive and seat the dusting tool converter element the cleaner proper is provided with a converter port 4| in the front top wall of the nozzle l which port is normally closed by a cover or closure plate 42 pivoted at 43 and held, by means of an overcenter spring 44, in either the closed position of Figure l or the open position of Figure 2.

A converter seat 46 extends inwardly from the port 4| through the nozzle l and into the air passageway 2 extending adjacent and below the forward portion of the fan chamber 6. Seat 46 is of a size adapted to make a sliding sealing fit about the main portion of the converter element 3! and to guide that element, when inserted through the port 4| in the manner illustrated in Figure 2, rearwardly and downwardly to a point at which the forward end 34 thereof is positioned with cut-out portion 36 closely enclosin the drive shaft H.

To receive and seat the forward lower end of the converter element 3| and to cooperate therewith in substantially sealing the air passageway and so the nozzle I from the eye 3 of the fan chamber 6 the bottom wall 3 of the air passageway 2 is contoured adjacent the shaft I l as illustrated in Figures '7 and 8.

A raised transversely extending platform at each side of the driving pulley l9 and formed in the bottom plate 3 is provided with recessed shoulders '48 which seat and cooperate "with the forward portion 34 of the converter 3| to form a substantial seal excepting only leakage around the pulley. The bottom wall curves closely about the lower end of the shaft l I, as does the forward end of the converter at 36, and the cooperative relationship is such that with the converter element in place a, substantial seal with but slight leakage is provided, it being noted that adjacent the fan eye and at the line at which the converter element seats upon the bottom plate that plate has a width which is adapted to closely enclose the side walls of the converter element.

Upon conversion to off-the-floor cleaning the cleaner may remain for a considerable period of time in a single place upon the surface covering. Under such conditions it is desirable that the cleaner nozzle be lifted out of contact with the covering. To accomplish this result in the cleaner constructed in accordance with the present invention the pivoted closure plate 42 is connected by a linkage with the crank shaft 23 which carries the front wheels 2i. As is clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and '2 a pivoted link 5| is carried by the closure plate 42 and is adapted to move upwardly through a second aperture 52 in the top wall of the nozzle when the plate is pivoted to its-open position, as illustrated in Figure 2. The lower end of link '5! slidingly encloses a pivot pin 54 carried by a bracket 53 nonrotatably fixed upon the central portion of the crank shaft 23. The crank shaft is at all :times spring urged to raise the wheels and to lower the nozzle by .a coil spring 56. Upon the operator pivotally moving the closure plate 42 to its open position, as illustrated in Figure 2, the link 5| pivots the bracket 53 which thereupon turns the central portion of the crank shaft 23 thereby pivoting the wheels 2| downwardly, against the force of spring 56, and so raises the nozzle. With the closure plate 42 in the closed position, as illustrated in Figure l, the link 5i and bracket '53 extend into the unused converter passageway 46 thereby economizing space. With the plates moved to the open position, as illustrated in Figure 2, they are spaced above the converter seat 46 which is then open to the converter element. ihe latter is retained in place by the cooperation of the hooked end 38 of the latch 37 with an abutment 39 positioned upon the nozzle wall. To prevent air leakage the cover plate 42 is provided with air seals at 57 which contact the boundaries of the apertures 4| and 52 with the closure plate in closed position.

The arrangement of the means for raising the nozzle for cff-the-floor cleaning is disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 28,475, filed May 21, 1948.

I claim:

1. In a suction cleaner, 2, body, a nozzle at the forward end of said body, a fan chamber disposed horizontally in said body rearward of said nozzle, a fan eye for said fan chamber opening toward the bottom of said body, means defining an air passageway in said body extending from said nozzle to said fan eye, a fan in said fan chamber, a motor driven shaft supporting said fan in said chamber and extending through said fan eye downwardly into said air passageway, a belt pulley on said shaft in said air passageway and spaced from said fan eye to expose a portion of said shaft, an agitator in said nozzle, a belt in said air passageway connecting said pulley and said agitator, a converter having a slotted end to receive said exposed shaft portion and connect said converter to said fan eye, a converter receiving port in the top wall of said nozzle for inserting said converter, converter seating means in said air passageway above said 'belt and forming a housing extending from said port below said fan chamber and terminating short of said exposed shaft portion, said housing guiding said converter, when inserted through said port, above said belt and below said fan chamber to arrange said slot about said exposed shaft portion to connect said fan eye with said converter element.

2. In a suction cleaner, a body, a nozzle at the forward end of said body, a, fan chamber disposed horizontally in said body rearward of said nozzle, a fan eye for said fan chamber opening toward the bottom of said body, means defining an air passageway in said body extending from said nozzle to said fan eye, a fan in said fan chamber, a motor driven shaft supporting said fan in said chamber and extending through said fan eye downwardly into said air passageway, a belt pulley on said shaft in said air passageway and spaced from said fan eye to expose a portion of said shaft, an agitator in said nozzle, a belt in said air passageway connecting said pulley and said agitator, the wall of said air passageway having an arcuate wall partly around that portion of said belt engaging said pulley to provide space therebetween only for said belt, said air passageway having shoulders atthe opposite ends of said arcuate wall above said belt pulley adjacent said exposed shaft portion, a converter element having at one end spaced portions to engage said shoulders and a slot between said spaced portions to receive said exposed shaft portion, and a converter receiving port in the top wall of said nozzle for inserting said converter element into said air passageway to arrange said slot partly about said exposed shaft portion and said spaced end portions against said shoulders to connect said fan eye with said converter element.

WARREN A. HUMPI-IREY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Niunber Name Date 1,294,473 Kirby Feb. 18, 1919 1,848,314 Butzer Mar. 8, 1932 1,856,136 Orr May 3, 1932 2,024,260 White Dec. 17, 1935 2,080,480 Hoover May 18, 1937 2,333,494 Snyder Nov. 2, 1943 2,416,786 White Mar. 4, 1947 

